Buoyant raft



E. MOUNTAIN BUOYANT RAFT Filed May 24-, 1924 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1924- 1,520,838,

E. MOUNTAIN BUOYANT RAFT Filed May 24, 1924 Sheets-Sheet 2 erd'IJr arcl fllawd'ain Ec'lw z ruas M Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT oF-FIcE.-

EDWARD MO'UNTAIN, OF GREENVILLE, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE MOUNTAIN, JR., OF GREENVILLE, MAINE.

BUOYANT RAFT.

Application filed May 24,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDW RD MOUNTAIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Greenville, in the county ofPiscataquis and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buoyant Rafts, of which the following is a specification.

As is well known it is common practice in logging operations to float the logs con siderable distances down rivers or even to tow the same on lakes or other large bodies of water. Many kinds of wood are light enough to float with only a part' thereof submerged but others will sink almost wholly beneath the surface of the water. It has been usual to load these on barges or scows for water transportation. Obviously this practice consumes much time and labor.

My invention relates to the construction of a buoyant raft formed of relatively light logs which will float readily, to which the heavy logs that it is desired to transport may be readily fastened, thus enabling them to be transported as desired.

An object of the inventionis to provide such a raft that will be easy to construct and efficient in operation, wherein the structure of the raft is such that it can be repeatedly used.

Another object is the provision of means for attaching the logs to'be towed in such manner that they may be readily and easily detached from the raft.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the loaded raft.

Figure 2 is a detail showing the manner of attachment of the individual logs to be transported.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the unloaded raft.

Figure 4 is a cross section thereof.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the loaded raft.

The raft iscomposed of two side members comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending logs or timbers 1. As illustrated there are three vertical rows of three logs each, but the number of rows or the number of logs in each row may be varied without departing from the spirit of the in- 1924. Serial No. 715,569.

vention. Each horizontal row, is separated from the adjacent row by a short log or timber 2, these being placed at-a plurality of points lengthwise of thelogs 1. At the front the log 2 is replaced by a log 3 which extends from one side. of the raft to the other. About the middle of the raft and at the rear end, an additional log 4 is placed on top of the upper timbers l and extends from one side of the raft to the other. The width of the raft is determined by the length of the logs 3 and 4. Each vertical tier of logs 1 is connected together and to the cross pieces 2, 3 and 4 respectively, by bolts 5 as clearly illustrated. Near its middle the front cross piece 3 is provided with an eye, hook, or equivalent member 6 by which the raftis connected to the tow or to adjacent rafts.

At suitable intervals the top pieces 1 of each side are provided with eyes 7 through which pass chains 8. These chains are attached to the inner rowof logs in the drawings, but obviously can be attached to either of the other rows or to a plurality of rows if desired. Theends of the chains may be secured in any manner. As shown in the detail drawingin Figure 2, the ends of the chainsjmay terminate in hook members 9 which will pass through'ther eyes 7 but which when hooked into an adjacent link of the chain willjprevent disengagement therer of. I r Carried on each chain is a plurality of ring dogs 10 as shown in Figure 2 which have an eye or ring through which the chain passes and which have freely slidable thereon a hook or dog member 11 that may be driven into the logs A to be towed. The logs are arranged in the raft as shown in Figures 1 and 5, the chains 8 being relatively taut and the ring dogs being fastened to the front ends of the logs. Being supported at the front end only, these logs will assume a posit-ion inclined towards: the rear, and the second chain 8 will be positioned sothat the second series of logs A will overlap the first series considerably. Similarly the third series overlaps the second, and so on, This arrangement permits the assembly of a large number of logs in a compact manner with great saving of space and with no interference.

Other eyes 12 are attached to the top logs of one of the tiers, and chains 13 which pass through these eyes and are 'held in position similarly to the chains 8 pass down from one top log 1, underneath the front ends of the series of logs A and up on the top log 1 on the opposite side of the raft. This furnishes an additional support for the logs being towed and prevents accidental disengagement of the logs from the ring dogs. While only one of these chains 13 is illustrated, it is to be understood that they may be used in connection with each series of logs A if desired.

It is evident that I have provided a simple and efficientmeans for constructing a raft to which the logs to be towed may be attached quickly and removed with equal ease. "lhe raft may be repeatedly used as there is no necessity for dismantling it when it is unloaded. A large number of logs may be attached to a single raft in compact form, and any desired number of rafts may be connected. Obviously changes in the forms and dimensions may be made and the precise construction changed in many details without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is,-therefore, to be understood that the invention is to be regarded as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my'inv'e'ntion': I

1. A buoyant raft comprising side members each composed of a plurality of rows and tiers of logs, horizontal spacing members intermediate each pair of said rows, transverse members extending from oneside of the raft to the other and connecting said side members, means for-fastening saidmembers together, transverse chains carried by the said members, and devices carried by said chains for engaging the logs to be supported by said raft.

2. A buoyant raft comprising side members each composed of a plurality of vertically spaced rows of logs, spacing members between said rows, transverse members connecting the side members, means for fastening all of said members together at engaging points, transverse chains carried by the side members, and devices carried by said chains'for engaging the logs to be supported by the raft.

3. A buoyant raft comprising side members each composed of a plurality of vertically spaced rows of logs, means connecting and spacing said side members, transverse chains carried by said side members, and devices carried by said chains for engaging the logs to be supported by the raft.

4. A buoyant raft comprising side members each composed of a plurality of vertically spaced rows of logs, means connecting and spacing said side members, transverse chains carried by said side members, devices carried by said chains for engaging the logs to be supported by the raft and other chains attached to the side members and passing under said logs.

5. A buoyant raft comprising side members, means connecting said side members transverse chains carried by the side members, dogs carried by said chains and adapted to engage the logs to be supported by the raft, and other transverse chains attached to the side members and passin under the front ends of said logs.

6. A buoyant raft comprising side members, means connecting and spacing said side members, transverse chains carried by said side members, and means carried by said chains for engaging the front ends of the logs to be supported by said raft whereby a plurality of series of said logs may be supported in overlapping relation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD MOUNTAIN. 

